Bag sealing and printing device



Aug. 11, 1959 v. J. NlCOLl BAG SEALING AND PRINTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1955 m m m V/A/CEA/T Mcau BY A7704 ms Y6 Aug. 11, 1959 I v. J. NlCOLl 2,898,717

BAG SEALING AND PRINTING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DOZ EA OZ 34 32 F/G. 6 I /04 Fl 6. 4 IINVENTOR.

' ATTQZIVEYS V/A/CE/Vf J. Mcau i United States Patent Patented Aug. 11, 1959 BAG SEALING AND PRINTING DEVICE Vincent J. Nicoli, Plymouth, Mass. Application July 8, 1955, Serial No. 520,703 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-131) This invention relates to a device which is adapted to sealably engage a length of adhesive tape about a bag end to close the bag, While simultaneously imprinting pricing or other information upon the tape.

In many types of commercial enterprises, articles are bagged, and the bags must be closed by a pressure sensitive adhesive tape or equivalent means at their mouth ends. Further, in such enterprises, it is necessary to apply pricing information to the sealing strip.

A good example of a situation of this type is found in supermarket or large food store chain operations. Particularly in self service food stores, many products, such as meats, fresh vegetables, etc., are bagged in transparent, plastic sacks or the like, after which a pressure sensitive adhesive tape or other fastening means is used to close the sacks. Then, pricing information is applied, and typically, this information includes the total price, the number of units of the product within the bag, in pounds, dozens, or other units of measure as the case may be, and the unit price per pound.

In such instances, the worker may find it necessary to bag large quantities of the product, with the amount of the product in each bag being the same in every instance. This would be particularly true in the case of certain vegetables, fruits, etc. but of course, is true also in numerous other instances that need not be mentioned here.

At present, the operation of sealing the bags and applying the pricing information thereto is time consuming and, hence, expensive. This is due to the fact that though the pricing information to be applied to the bag may be the same in every instance, for a large quantity of the bags, the operation of placing the price indicia on the bag must be carried on separately from the sealing operation.

The main object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide a device for simultaneously sealing the bag end and applying pricing information thereto.

A more specific object is to so form the device as to cause the sealing of the bag end and the application of the pricing information thereto to be carried out with a minimum of difficulty, with the worker being required to do little more than insert the bag end to be sealed into the device, and then tearing off the bag engaging portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

A further object is to effect the sealing of the bag and the printing of the same with the pricing information in a minimum amount of time, thus to permit a large quantity of bags to be sealed and priced in a comparatively short time.

A further object is to provide a device as described wherein the inserted bag end actuates the several moving parts of the device, shifting the tape into a bag embracing position while simultaneously disposing a fresh portion of an inking ribbon over the indicia bearing printing plate of the device, with said insertion of the bag end being further adapted to effect movement of a hammerlike means toward the printing plate, to compress the bag end and the bag embracing tape portion between the 2 printed plate and said hammer-like means, for adhering the tape to the bag while simultaneously imprinting the tape with the desired information.

A further object is to provide a device as stated wherein the construction will be such that on removal of the inserted bag end, the parts will return to a ready position, awaiting insertion of the next bag end.

A further object is to provide a sealing and printing device for bags which, despite its adaptability for automatically sealing and printing the pricing information without requirement of anything more than insertion of the bag end, will still be simply designed, capable of manufacture at low cost, and rugged and trouble free in operation.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a device formed according to the present invention, a portion of the front wall of the device being broken away to show the inner construction, and another portion of the casing being shown in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a case carrying the printing inserts when the same are not in use.

A hollow, relatively shallow casing 10 of approximate ly trapezoidal outer configuration includes a flat, vertically disposed back wall 12, side Walls 14, 16, a top wall 18, and a bottom Wall 20. Feet 22, projecting laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the bottom wall adjacent the side walls 14, 16, in a common horizontal plane, are apertured to receive fastening elements such as screws 24 extending into a counter top or equivalent supporting surface S, to fixedly secure the casing in an upstanding position to said surface. To provide access to the casing interior, the front wall 26 thereof is formed as a closure hinged at 28 to wall 14 and latched at 29 to wall 16 when in its normal, closed position.

In the lower part of the casing, adjacent wall 14, a horizontal pin 30 extending transversely of the casing from back wall 1'2 rotatably supports a roll 32 of pressure sensitive adhesive tape 34. The tape extends about a roller 36 upwardly along wall 14, passing about transverse guide pins 38, 40 and along the underside of top wall 18.

The Wall 18 is cut away intermediate its ends to provide an opening 42 and adjacent the opening, a tape guide plate 44 is riveted at 46 to back wall 12 and is formed at its upper end with an inwardly turned guide lip 48 along which tape 34 is guided.

Communicating with the top opening 42 is an upwardly opening recess 50 formed in the back wall 12. This cooperates with opening 42 in forming a slot-like aperture at the upper end of the casing in which is insertible the folded mouth end of a bag B to be sealed. Since tape 34 extends across said aperture, tacky side up, the insertion of the bag will depress the portion of the tape in the path of the bag, forcing it downwardly into the casing and flexing said portion into a U-shape with the legs and bight of the U-shaped part embracing the inserted bag end and adhering thereto.

Following insertion of the bag end into the casing aperture, the user, in a manner to be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, cuts the tape by tearing it along a blade 52 aifixed to wall 16 and extending transversely of the casing at the juncture between walls 16, 18.

The movement of tape 34 in its guided path effects movement, conjointly therewith, ofan inking strip. To this end, tape 34, between guide pins 38, 40 is led in frictional contact with the periphery of a roller 54 rotatably mounted on back wall 12, and having a roughened surface to insure its rotation by contact with the tacky face of the moving tape 34. Secured to roller 54 is a pinion 55 meshing with a larger gear wheel 56 which is in mesh with and rotates a pinion 58 secured to a spool 60, to wind upon the spool an inking ribbon or strip 62.

Ribbon 62 is guided by a pin 64 between closely spaced guide lips 66, 68 respectively formed on plate 44 and on a guide plate 70 riveted to back wall 12. The lips 66, 68 are inclined in a direction to guide the ribbon to ward spool 60 from the upper end of recess 50, at one side of the recess. Before passing between the lips, the ribbon is guided in a vertical path along said side of the recess by transverse guide pins 72, 74 and is led to said pins by being trained about similar pins 76, 78, after unwinding from a spool '80.

Spools 60, 80 are reversible to permit reuse of the ribbon whenever it becomes fully unwound from the lower one of said spools.

To insure against over running of the roll 32, a leaf spring 31, anchored at one end to wall 14, bears at its free end against the tape wound upon the roll 32.

Shown in Figures 1, 4, and is a flat plate 82 lying in a vertical plane extending transversely of the casing along the side of recess 50, with the inking ribbon overlying the outer face of said plate. The plate is removably mounted on a vertical support flange 84 of guide plate 70, having vertically spaced, headed lugs 86 seating in the inner ends (Figure 4) of laterally opening slots 88 formed in the support flange.

Plate 82 is provided in its ribbon contacting face with vertically spaced, horizontally extending dovetail grooves 90, 92, 94 in which are removably engaged indicia bearing inserts 96, 98, 100 of complementary cross section. Inserts 96 may as shown bear raised numerical indicia selected to show the total price; inserts 98 bear raised indicia showing the total poundage, number of units in dozens and/ or fractions thereof as the case may be; and the inserts 100 bear raised indicia selected to show the price per pound, dozen, or other unit of measure.

The inserts are selected from, and when not in use are kept in, a case 102 having recesses 104 in which the inserts are removably engaged.

Means is embodied in the device for automatically printing on the bag sealing portion of the tape 34 the selected legend defined by the indicia of the particular inserts that are in use, responsive to insertion of the folded bag end into recess 50. To this end, .I provide an arm 106 having at its upper end a lateral, flat extension 108 to which is secured a face plate 110. The arm is pivoted on a pin 112 for swinging movement in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1, toward the inserted bag end.

Spaced closely from the lower end of the arm is a plate 114 riveted to the back wall of the casing and formed along one side with an abutment flange 116 merging at its upper end into an inclined lip 118 that aids in guiding the inking ribbon.

An actuating or cam plate 120, disposed between plate 114 and arm 106, has parallel, closed slots 122, 124 relatively offset longitudinally of plate 120. Headed guide lugs 126, I28, extending from back wall 12 through the slots, serve to mount the plate 120 for sliding movement upon the back wall, and formed on the upper end of the cam plate is a lateral lip 130 disposed in the path of the inserted bag end, so that the cam plate -will be shifted downwardly, against the restraint of a return spring 132 connected between the cam plate and plate 70, when the bag-end is inserted.

Connected between the cam plate and the lower end of the arm 106 is a spring 134 tensioned to normally engage the lower end of the arm against a cam surface 136 of the cam plate.

In'use of the device, and assuming that the worker has filled a substantial number of bags with equal quantities of the same article and is ready to seal the same and place the prices thereon, he need only insert each folded bag end in the aperture of the casing 10. This depresses the portion of the tape extending across the recess 50, and causes temporary adherence of the same to the inserted part of the bag.

It will be understood that previously, the plate 82 will have been provided with selected inserts 06, 98, 100

hearing the proper pricing indicia.

As the inserted bag end approaches the inner end of recess 50, it will engage the abutment or lip 130, and will shift the plate 120 downwardly. As a result, the arm 106 will be cammed in a clockwise direction about its pivot axis 112. This causes the hammer-like, faced extension 108 of the arm to force the bag end against the inking ribbon.

The indicia of the inserts, as previously noted herein, are raised, and accordingly, as the bag end and the depressed portion of the tape are compressed between the inserts and the arm extension, there will be simultaneously effected a full adhesion of the tape to the bag end and a printing of the tape with the pricing information.

The bag is now withdrawn from recess 50, is shifted to the left in Figure 2, and the tape cut at the right of the bag. The loose ends of the bag sealing portion of the tape are now pressed against the sides of the bag and, with the operation completed, the device is ready for its next use.

When the bag is withdrawn and moved over to the cutting knife, it will pull with it the still attached tape 34, and this will cause, in the manner previously described herein, a movement of the inking ribbon to dispose a fresh position of the same over the insert carrying plate 82.

While, a ribbon is shown by way of example as the means for inking the inserts, there could be used, instead, an inking pad, stamp pad, or ink supply well. Further,

the illustrated gear sizes and their relatiye arrangement.

may be varied as desired.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined .to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is .claimed is:

1. A device for sealing a bag end and applying prieing or other indicia thereto, comprising a casing having a recess in which a bag end is insertible; means for supporting an adhesive tape with a portion thereof extending across said recess disposed for flexure by the inserted bag end into a bag embracing position; a plate mounted in fixed position within the casing .at one side of the recess bearing selected indicia; means within the casing "for inking the plate; and presser means pivotally mounted at the other side of the recess actuated by movement of the inserted bag end in a direction substantially parallel to the plane 0f the plate to press the bag embracing portion of the tape against the bag end and against the plate, :for sealably engaging said tape portion about the bag end while simultaneously imprinting the same.

2. A device for sealing a bag end and applying pricing or other indicia thereto, comprising a casing having a recess in which a bag end is insertible; means for supporting an adhesive tape with a portion thereof extending across said recess disposed for flexure by the inserted bag end into a bag embracing position; a plate mounted in fixed position within the casing at one side of the recess bearing selected indicia; means within the casing for inking the plate; an arm pivotally mounted in the casing at the other side of the recess and adapted when swung in one direction to force the inserted bag end in the direction of the plate and the tape against the bag, for sealably engaging said tape portion about the bag end while simultaneously imprinting the same; and means actuated by movement of the inserted bag end in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the plate for swinging the arm in said direction.

3. A device for sealing a bag end and applying pricing or other indicia thereto, comprising a casing having a recess in which a bag end is insertible; means for supporting an adhesive tape with a portion thereof extending across said recess disposed for flexure by the inserted bag end into a bag embracing position; a plate mounted in fixed position within the casing at one side of the recess bearing selected indicia; means within the casing for inking the plate; an arm pivotally mounted in the casing at the other side of the recess and adapted when swung in one direction to force the inserted bag end in the direction of the plate and the tape against the bag, for sealably engaging said tape portion about the bag end while simultaneously imprinting the same; and means actuated by movement of the inserted bag end in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the plate for swinging the arm in said direction, comprising a cam plate movably mounted on the casing and having a portion at the lower end of the recess to be engaged and shifted by the bag end in one direction, said cam plate being proportioned for biasing the arm, when so shifted, in a direction toward the indicia bearing plate.

4. A device for sealing a bag end and applying pricing or other indicia thereto, comprising a casing having a recess in which a bag end is insertible; means for supporting an adhesive tape with a portion thereof extending across said recess disposed for flexure by the inserted bag end into a bag embracing position; a plate mounted in fixed position in the casing at one side of said recess; at least one insert removably mountable on the plate and bearing a selected indicium; and means on the other side of the recess and actuated by movement of the inserted bag end in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the plate for forcing said bag end and the bag embracing portion of the tape against said insert to adhere the tape to both sides of the bag end while simultaneously pressing the tape against said indicium.

5. A device for sealing a bag end and applying pricing or other indicia thereto, comprising a casing having a recess in which a bag end is insertible; means for supporting an adhesive tape with a portion thereof extending across said recess disposed for flexure by the inserted bag end into a bag embracing position; a plate mounted in the casing at one side of said recess; at least one insert removably mountable on the plate and bearing a selected indicium; means carried by the plate adapted to bear at least one indicium to be marked upon said bag end; an inking ribbon mounted in said casing for movement across said indicium; means actuated by movement of the tape by fiexure of said tape portion by the inserted bag end for moving said ribbon across the plate to dispose a fresh portion of the ribbon in overlying relation to the plate; and means actuated by movement of the inserted bag end for forcing said bag end and the bag embracing portion of the tape against the ribbon to adhere the tape to the bag end while simultaneously imprinting the tape with the indicium.

6. A device for sealing a bag end and applying pricing or other indicia thereto, comprising a casing having a recess in which a bag end is insertible; a roll of adhesive tape rotatably mounted within the casing, said tape extending from the roll across the recess for fiexure of the tape by the inserted bag end into a bag embracing position simultaneously with rotation of said roll; a plate mounted in the casing at one side of the recess; means supported by the plate bearing at least one indicium to be imprinted on the bag embracing portion of the tape; a roll of inking ribbon rotatably mounted within said casing, said ribbon extending from the second named roll and being guided within the casing over said plate; means responsive to movement of the tape by flexure thereof about the bag for rotating said second-named roll, whereby to dispose a fresh portion of the inking ribbon over the plate simultaneously with flexure of said bag embracing portion of the tape; and means actuated by the inserted bag end for pressing said bag and and the bag embracing tape portion against the inking ribbon and plate, whereby to sealably engage the tape portion with the bag end simultaneously with imprinting of said indicium on the tape portion.

7. A device for sealing a bag end and applying pricing or other indicia thereto, comprising a casing, said casing having a recess in which a bag end is insertible; a roll of adhesive tape rotatably mounted within said casing; means guiding the adhesive tape from the roll across said recess, for flexure of the portion of the tape extending across said recess into a bag embracing position responsive to insertion of the bag end into the recess; a roll of inking ribbon rotatably mounted within said casing; means guiding the inking ribbon from the second named roll along one side of the recess; means responsive to movement of the tape by flexure thereof about the bag for rotating said second-named roll; a plate mounted within the casing at said one side of said recess; means on the plate bearing at least one selected, raised indicium; a cam plate slidably mounted within the casing and having a portion extending into said recess in the path of the inserted bag end, for effecting slidable movement of the cam plate responsive to insertion of the bag end into the recess; resilient, yielding means associated with the cam plate adapted to normally retain the same in the path of the inserted bag end; an arm pivotally mounted within the casing and including at one end a lateral, hammer-like extension disposed at the other side of said recess, said arm swinging about its pivot axis across the recess to press the inserted bag end against the inking ribbon and plate, whereby to sealably engage the flexed tape portion with the bag end simultaneously with imprinting said tape portion with said indicium, the cam plate having a cam surface disposed for biasing the arm in said direc tion about its pivot axis on slidable movement of the cam plate by the inserted bag end against the restraint of said resilient, yielding means; and a resilient, yielding connection between the cam plate and arm adapted for normally swinging the arm out of the path of the inserted bag end into the path of slidable movement of the cam plate.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein an inking ribbon is mounted in the casing for movement across said plate, and means is provided for moving said ribbon across the plate in response to movement of the tape upon flexure thereof into said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 624,915 Ellis May 16, 1899 1,190,848 Batdorf July 11, 1916 2,275,653 Rast Mar. 10, 1942 2,762,179 Young Sept. 11, 1956 

